Picture-displaying apparatus



Oct. 16, 1928.

E. DIDCOTE PICTURE DISPLAYING APPARATUS Filed D60. 25, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet l 3 10 /6' 1 dw w W u 4 a v W M W m w L. n u m .m a W w L i 4 0?30 I -u I Ill. W m E 6/1.? I--- k -i o o E. DIDCOTE PICTURE DI SPLAYING I APPARATUS Filed Dec. 23, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 16, 1928. I EQ DIDCOTE PICTURE DISPLAYING APPARATUS- Filed Dec. 23, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 16, 1928.

E. DIDCOTE PICTURE DISPLAYING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 23, 1924 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 16, 1928. v E. DIDCOTE PICTURE DISPLAYING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 23, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet Patented 0a. 16, 1928.

UNITED J STATES P'ATEN TV comes.

ERNEST n ncorrn, 0F WOKING, ENGLAND, ssro'noaro ADVERTISING MACHIN a LIMITED, or LONDON, ENGLAND.

PICTURE-DISPLAYING APPARATUS.

Application filed December 23, 1924, Serial No.;

it approaches the groups.

The objects of my invention, among others, are to provide, in a picture display apparatus a group of curtain rollers disposed in spaced relation and rotatable about a common axis, means for retaining saidcurtain rollers in spaced relation, and means t'or preventing accidental displacement of said curtain rollers from theaforesaid retaining means; to provide 'means. adapted to secure the rollers against accidental displacementduring their reciprocal transit while unwinding and winding their curtains; and to afford positive, smooth and quiet operation of the apparatus. The foregoing and further objects as hereinafter more particularly specified are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which a i F igure 1 is a front elevationpartly broken away of the display apparatus as a whole,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentarysection of Figure 1 taken on line 38 looking in the dime tion of the arrows, 1 I

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on .line 4-4; of Figure 3, looking in the direction-of the arrows, it i Figure 5 is a detail of the curtain roller,

Figure 6 is a detail of the drum disc,

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic representation of the curtain rollers, 1

Figure 8 is a detail of twin roller modification,

' 9 is an enlargement of a detail of v V Fi ure 10 is a sectional elevation taken on line 9-9 of Figure 9, r v

Figure 11 is a plan view of Figure 10,and Figures 12 and 13 are diagrammatic illustrations of an operation in connection with the traversing mechanism, U 2 Figure 14L is a plan view and" Fig. 15 is an end view of the part positioning the curtain r0llcrsduring transit,

757,599,. and in. Great' Bri tainJ'anuary a, 1924i i Referring to thedrawings, the frame of the apparatusjis formedfin two parts 1 and 2 secured together byd stance pieces 3 and straps or caps 4 and cross bars 5 0i which one is shown in'Fignre 2. Cross bars (iserve to-connect the legs of each part of the frame as shown"; So-calledjdrums 7 and 8 are'securedto the top members of theframe as by legs9 and straps 10 shown in Figure 3. Similar drumsll and 12 are secured to the cross bars 6" in like manner. Channel members13 and 14 are connectedtoextensions -15 of the upper and lower drums and pulleys 16 are mounted on the upper extensions for a pur pose hereinafter described. Further channel guides 17 are secured by stays 18 at each side of the apparatus alsolhereinafter described.

The arrangement above described forms a substantially rigid structure. y

The curtain rollersl9 as shown, are formed in twogroups ofsix each,one above andone below and are mounted so astoltravel in annular grooves in the drums 7 and 8, 11

and 12 respectively... The method of mountingthe rollers'in the drums is as follows. Re-

ferring to Figures 3, 4 and5 the dru1n8 is for the bearing 21 in which a drivingshai't 22 is journalled. The drum is-xalso provided with annular flanges forming a groove or race 23. A disc 24,1skeyedto shaft 22 ad aprovided with a flange 2O toiorm a housing ersare moved roundthe groove or; race in the drum. The arrangementwith regard to drums. 7, lland 12 is similar but in some cases the shoes or skates. may be dispensed with in drums 7 and 11' and the annular grooves therein reduced in size to receive just the bare spindles of the squared ends of the; curtain rollers.

Shaft 22 projects, beyond bearing 21 and is fitted iwithone element 29 of a Geneva movement. The lower drivingv shaft is similarly fitted on the opposite side ofthe machine. The co acting elements 30 of each Geneva movement are mounted upon stub shafts 31 journalled in'the frame.

The shoe or. skat 27 provides a ready meuceito lturnon its axis.

means of overcoming the friction causedby the torsionalfstrain of the spring upon the curtain roller spindle keeping the tension necessary for the rewinding of the curtain upon the spring roller when it is beingreturned to its position after having beenfenposed to View.

The drive for the upper and lower shafts 22 and the drum discs is from a motor-not Sl1OW11 Ctlpl.-8Cl to the worm '32 with which the worm wheel 33 meshes. This worm wheel-v is mounted on a shaft 34; journalled in the frame and this shaft carries sprockets 35 and 36. Chain transmits motion to the lower shaft 31 whichactuates the lower Geneva movement and intermittently rotates,

the lower shaft 22. Cl1ain88 transmits motion to a shaft 39 fitted'with sprocketsdO and 41 the latter of which transmits motion through a: chain 12 to the sprocket 43' on the upper stub shaft 31' thereby driving the upper Geneva movement and intermittently rotating the upper shaft 22 and its drum discs. Both the upper and lower shafts 22 are moved step by step in synchronism;

One end of each curtain 44 on the rollers 19 issecured to a rod or lath 45, see Figure 7,

detachably secured in openings or slots 4L6 in the disc at each end, see Figure '6, Then therefore a roller is removed from'the carrying drums and drawn up or down by the travelling device hereinafter described their curtain is exposed. a 1

The mechanism for drawing the curtain rollers up and down for changing them will now be described. Chain 42' trained about sprockets 4:1 and 43 is duplicated on the oppos'ite side of the-machine as shown at 4L7, l8 and a9. Travellers and 51 are arranged to move up and down the sides of the apparatus and for this purpose carry rollers 53 running in the vertical channel members 18 and 1%;

respectively. Slide 'mei'nbers :54: mounted in horizontal guides 55in the travellers each carry a further rolleErEG-and are provided with vertical slots 57 for purpose referred to hereinafter.

In order to move the travellers the end of one arm 58of a bell-crank lever (see Figures 9, 1 0 and'l'l) .is heyed to the chain 42 asiby pins 59, this level-being pivoted in bearings 60 in thetraveller 51 and having at the end guide 14, horizontal branches D0 are proangle of 60 degrees.

vided in the channel at those points occupied by the rollers when pins'eiiter upon a sprocket (see Figures 12 and 13). The bell crank can therefore turn by reason of the vertical slot 57 within which moves the roller 62 at the end of its arm 61 and since the slide is free to move horizontally. Accordingly, when the pins enter upon a sprocket wheel, the roller 56 turns into a branch 63 and the traveller being thereby prevented fl'OIllDlOVlllg vertically, remains stationary in its uppermost (orlowernjiost) position.

The half-turn of the crank during the time the pins are on the sprocket, causes the slide to reciprocate horizontally and regain -l L-S initial position as the pins leave the sprocket.

A similar cycle of operations occurs when the 'pins reach the other sprockenthe horizontal branch there issuing in the opposite direction since the slide moves to the other side.

To prevent the rollers carried by the traveller 'from entering when they pass thejunctions idle rollers c4. are mounted therein as shown. 1

Each traveller carries a block 65 whose up'per and lower parts are shaped to fill gaps *66 (see Figure in the drums, and each of these parts is channelledto receive and accommodate a skate 22 These parts or the block (35 may be regarded as removable sections of the drums and are herein thus referred to. j t

hen the travellers are moved into their uppermost position the annulation of the grooves or races'in the drums is completed and whilst temporarily at rest in this position as hereinbefore described the shaft 22' to the branches and its slotted discs are moved one step forward so as to transfer the picture roller and skate from the block 65 into the groove or race 23 and introduce a fresh one. This movement of the shaft 22 is effected by the engagement of pin 59 with an element 67 of the Geneva movement which rocks the latter together with the element 3.0 through an a'ngle offlSO degrees as it rides round the I sprocket 43 and by means .of the pin 68 whereby the element 29 is rocked through an As will be understood the operation is repeated at the lowermost position of the travellers so that there are always two rollers carried in transit across the front of the apparatus,except during the period of changing rollers.

Thetravellers are counterbalanced by a weight bar (not shown) suspended by cords or chains 69. over the pulleys 16 (see Figure 4). p v The curtain rollers are positioned during transit by means of a so-called H-piece 70 mounted on each traveller by means of a rod 71 in sleeve bearingsiso as .tobe capable of relative vertical movement. The H-pieces are secured to and interconnected bya strip or. lath 72 which serv s the purpose of cover able section and the roller therein the rollerstherein back and forth ing the gap between the two rollers in transit. Recesses 73 in the H-pieces accommodate and position the spindles 26 of the rollers.

The longer arm 74 of a bellcrank lever piv= oted at 75 in the traveller engages by means I of a'pin 76' and slot 77 with the lath 72. The shorter arm 78 carries a roller 79 running in the channel guide 17 which is inturned at the ends as shown at 80 so'that just before the traveller reaches its uppermost or lowermost position the lever is rocked and the long arm is depressed or raised respectively." This movement causes relative vertical motion be tween the H-p'iece and traveller sothat thes former as well as the lath 72 are arrested'and kept clear of the drums during the changing of picture rollers. v An aperture 81 is provided in thelath' 72; fitted with plain or coloured glass oroth'er suitable material through which the light behind the pictures is projected. t It will be clear from the foregoing description that thereare always therefore two rollers in the travellers progressively and alternately winding and unwinding their curtains in order to displayand obliterate a picture or otherdevice on one side only of the apparatus.

In order to display curtains on both sides of the apparatus simultaneously'two' rollers may be mounted in a commoniskateor shoe 68, see Figure 8 an d the other parts of the apparatus correspondingly modified in .amanner; which it is notdeemed necessary to describe. In this case-each traveller carries four rollersin transit. i Iclaim:- I v r V 1. Picture display apparatus comprising stationary drums, curtain rollers mounted in annular groovestherein, removable sections in said drums, means operating interinittently, serving to bring the rollers insuccession int'othe removable drum sections, and means for traversing said drum sections and across the apparatus. e

2. Picture display apparatus comprising a stationary drum, an annular groove therein, a removable section in said drum; a plurality of curtain rollers, spindles terminating said rollers and skates fitted to said spindles, the said skates being mounted in said groove and adapted to travel therein when the removable section is in said drum; means operating intermittently adapted to bring the rollers in succession into the removable section of the drum, and meansfor traversingsaid removinto and out of the drum.

3. Picture display. apparatus comprising stationary drums, curtain rollers mounted in annular grooves therein; a rotatable slotted disc adjacent the groove side of each drum; spindles upon said rollers engaging the slots in said disc, means for rotating said discs step by step, whereby rotation of the discs tions.

serves tomove the curtain rollers around the annular grooves in the drums sections of said drums beingseparable therefrom and "means restoresame to, said drums in timed relation to the rotation of said discs;

41 Picture display apparatus including stationary drum, a removable sectiontherein, a traveller carrying"saidremovable section and adapted to move said removable section int-0' and out of engagement with said drum, 1 means for rec procating said traveller com;

prising endlessrhains and driving pins thereon coacting with said traveller, means adapted to reverse the direction of travel of said pins, and means whereby thetraveller ,is maintained 7 stationary; during the period the direction of travel of the driving pinsis being reversed; In

5. Picture display apparatus comprising stationary drums, removable sections in said drums, curtain rollers slidably mounted in annular grooves said drums,'a part: of the groove in each drum lying within the removable section; a traveller carrying said removable sections and a slide therefor adapted to be reciprocated towardfand away from said drums; means associated a With said slide adapted to lock said traveller against'moveinent while the said rollers are moving insaid grooves, and 'n'ieans adapted to jmove said rollers into and out of'said removable sec- 6. Picture display apparatus including stationarydrums, removable sections in said drums, curtain rollers mounted in said drums,

and means for movin'g said rollers about said drums and into and out of said removable sections; a traveller carrying said removable sections; and adaptedtomove said sections into andfout of engagement with said 'diauns, and to remove a section when a curtain roller is in said section; a member carried by said traveller and serving to position said roller in transit; and means adapted to arrest the movement of saidpositioning member for predetermined intervals at the terminals of its reciprocation.

7. Picture display apparatus including a pair of oppositely disposed stationary drums at the upper end and a pair of stationary drums in vertical; alinement respectively therewith at thelowerendofthe apparatus;

a plurality of curtain rollers mounted in guides in each pair of, drums, and means adapted to cause said curtain rollers to move in a closed pathabout said drums; vertical guides extending from thelower to the upper drums; a travelling carriage vertically movable between said guides means whereby said carriage engages a curtain roller at either end of its travel and transports said rollers up and down said guides; means a for arresting the travel of said carriage at the ends of its travel and for retaining said carriage at rest during the periods of movement ofsaid rollersabout said drums; and means for arresting the movement of the said rollers about said drums during the periods of travelof said carriage.

8. Picture displaying apparatus including a pair of oppositely v disposed stationary drums at the upper end and a pair of stationary drums in vertical alinement respectively therewithat the lower. end ofthe apparatus;

a a plurality of curtain rollers mounted in lie guides in each pair ofdrums and means adapted to cause sa d curtain rollers to move in a closed path about said drums; vertical guideserten'ding from the lower to the upper drums; a travelling carriage vertically movable between said guides; means whereby said carriage engages a curtain roller at eitherend of its travel and transports said rollers up and down said guides; a positioning member on said travelling carriage adapted to locate a pair of curtain rollers during transit and means including a bell crank lever carrying a roller and. a guide in engagement therewith said guide having inclined end portions adapted to cause said, positioningmember to moverelat vely to said carriage; means for arresting the travel of sa d carriage at the ends of its travel andfor retainadapted-to cause said curtain rollers to move in a closed path about said'drums; vertical guides extending from the lower to the upper drums; a travelling carriagevertically movable between saidguides; means whereby said carriage engages a curtain roller at either her on said travelling carriage adapted to lo- ,end or its travel and transports said: rollers T up and down said gu des; a pos tioning mom cate'a pair of curtain rollers during transit and means including a bell-crank lever carrying a roller and a guide in engagement therevvith fsaid guide having ncl ned endportions adapted to cause said positioning rneniber to move relatively to sa d carriage; means lor arresting the travel oi said Carriage at the ends'of its travel'andfOr retaining'said car- 7 riage at rest during the periodsot movement ofsaid rollers about said drums; means for arrestingithe movement of the said rollers aboutsaid drums during the periods of travel of said carriage, and means consistingof a strip of lath serving toscreen the gap be tween rollers in transit, sa d lath being connected tol and arrested with the said positioniugmember;

10. P cturedisplay apparatus comprising incombination a supporting frame, upper tlKllOWQl' di'umscarried by said'frame, curtain': rollers mounted in annular grooves in said drums 'bymeans of skates fitted on the roller spindles, removable segments in said drums, rotatable discs with vslots engaging with the roller spindles, driving mechanism in intermittent engagement with said discs and adapted to rotate said discs stepby step, travellers adapted to carry said removable drum segments, means for traversing said travellers hack and forth between the said upper and loiverdrums and means for temporarily arrestingv said travellers when adjacent said drums. v

- ERN ST D Doorn. 

